This is a beautiful cactus, with spiny stems and fragrant smelling flowers. I propagated it originally from one single seed about two years ago and now it is producing globular, orange fruit which are edible.

The fruit are acidic tasting like gooseberries and I imagine they would be good for jam making or fruit tarts.

I am really, really excited about this plant because I have just found out, on an Internet search that the green leaves can be cooked and eaten.  Apparently, there is a particular place in Brazil where this vegetable is prized and it is called Ora-Pro-Nobis meaning “Pray For Us.”

I can’t wait to try this as a vegetable.  It has been growing crazy and out of control so it will be a good excuse to cut it back.  I will definitely post a blog up about cooking with this new, exotic vegetable.

For those interested, this plant can be grown from seed or cutting and apparently, even from a fallen leaf.

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